Comments from leaders at EU summit

European leaders met on Monday to discuss how to balance austerity with growth at a summit that approved a permanent rescue fund for the euro zone.

Following are comments from leaders after the summit:

FRENCH PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY

ON CZECH POSITION ON NEW FISCAL COMPACT:

The Czech prime minister told us that for constitutional reasons, he did not wish to accede to the future treaty. We have taken note of that decision.

I'm not sufficiently familiar with the ins and outs of what is going on in Prague to be able to understand why what was acceptable in December is no longer acceptable now.

But it will be a treaty with 25 members, because the Danish prime minister told us that her parliament has given her the authority to ratify the treaty, so it will be a treaty among 25.

ON GREECE:

As far as the Greek situation is concerned, let me tell you that things are going ahead in the right direction, and we are hopeful that Greece's situation will be the subject of a definitive agreement in the next few days.

Following are comments ahead of the summit, earlier in the day:

AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR WERNER FAYMANN

ON MONITORING GREECE:

I don't think it's a good idea to just have one commissioner for one country. I prefer the Commission to work in the same way as with other programme countries and make strict controls. There's the (EU-IMF) troika and others who do this job.

ON SUMMIT AIMS:

We now also have to talk about growth. We have to make savings, everybody knows this, to sort out budgets everywhere. But the big is question is how can we tackle employment. If we don't massively campaign for sustainable growth then we are missing a pillar.

I think that the financial transaction tax and strong banking rules are part of an approach where our citizens see that employment is not a minor point for us but just as important as savings and the debt brake.

DANISH PRIME MINISTER HELLE THORNING-SCHMIDT

It's very important that we don't forget the growth and the jobs. Everything starts and ends with growth and jobs, but we also have to understand that in each individual member state you have to have balanced budgets and it is important for all of us that we now have balanced budgets.

We have to balance budgets and at the same time focus on growth and jobs. It is possible to do both at the same time and it is important to understand that these are two sides of the same coin -- they are interlinked.

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON

This is the European Council where we need to get really serious about the growth agenda in Europe. That means completing the single market, it means signing trade deals with the fastest growing parts of the world and it means a serious effort at deregulation, particularly for small businesses, so they can create the jobs and the growth that we need.

That's the agenda I am going to be pushing and I hope to find a lot of support.

GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL

ASKED ABOUT MONITORING GREEK BUDGET SPENDING:

I think we're having a discussion we shouldn't be having. It's about how Europe can be supportive so Greece can comply, so there are targets. But this is only possible if Greece and the other countries debate this. This is why I don't want a controversial debate, but a constructive one which is successful. Successful for the people in Greece and nothing else.

LUXEMBOURG'S PRIME MINISTER AND EUROGROUP PRESIDENT

JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER

ON MONITORING GREECE:

I don't think we should single out Greece. If we are prepared to make sure in the treaty that we do this to countries that are constantly outside of the track, then I'm not opposed, but I don't think it's fortunate to have this only with regards to Greece.

Greece is not the focus of today's summit but we will without doubt talk about it.

ON SUMMIT AIMS:

It is about employment. We have to learn to explain that it's not just about the consolidation our finances, but we also need the prospect of growth.

SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER FREDRIK REINFELDT

ON MONITORING GREECE:

We need to have things in place for monitoring that they are really doing what they are promising.

You can always discuss how you should do it and what you call it. I understand the frustration. The feeling has been that Greece, who needs support from outside to be able to survive... do not deliver on the reforms they have promised others.

The experience is that you need help from outside when you need to make tough reforms.

DUTCH PRIME MINISTER MARK RUTTE

ON SITUATION IN GREECE AND BUDGETARY MONITORING:

I never comment on proposals of colleagues ahead of the summit but in general terms you know the position of the Netherlands. Quid pro quo. If we are prepared, in the case of Greece, to also in our own interest help the Greeks to get through this difficult period, we expect them to implement the agreement very well.